Box Scraper Is there really a difference in box blades?

[sdef]

Are the scarifiers the weak point? Can you just use them bent for awhile, and just buy new ones?

I think any weak link will depend upon the quality of the box blade, the size of tractor used, the soil conditions and operator experience.

My ROBB is moderately built (72" x 710 pounds) and used in very hard clay, very large rocky soil and has many very hard use hours on it. I broke the replaceable tip off of one of scarifiers early on and it must have been a factory defect as since then no other tips have been damaged and this ROBB has seen lots of very hard use.

I also bent one scarifier a bit sideways when I suspect the ROBB was digging deep in wet clay and got wedged to the side of the tip of a small, buried boulder. Something had to give and the shank bent somewhat- maybe 15 degrees or so. I still use it as is but do have a couple replacements I could install that I purchased as spare parts when I purchased the ROBB new. I can't imagine bending a quality shank along its length.

 

[xring100]

As others have stated weight is a big key especially if you have clay.
Hydraulic retractable is awesome

 

[TripleR]

Very nice Gannon box scraper, wish I had another for our other farm.:thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

Very nice Gannon box scraper, wish I had another for our other farm.:thumbsup:

I hitched up my LP BB last week. Did some ditch work along the public road. Used the scarifiers to rip up some heavy clay so I could carry it with the FEL. Did some Grapple work removing some dead stumps and then smoothed the areas with the BB.

Had been feeling a little detached from it since I hadn't used it since last Fall. A few minutes into these tasks I felt lots better about having it sitting in the corner of the machine shed all Winter. I'll never wear mine out and I'll never sell it. Great tool, especially with hydraulic scarifiers. You and Dave make me jealous with your new shiny BBs.

 

[TripleR]

I hitched up my LP BB last week. Did some ditch work along the public road. Used the scarifiers to rip up some heavy clay so I could carry it with the FEL. Did some Grapple work removing some dead stumps and then smoothed the areas with the BB.

Had been feeling a little detached from it since I hadn't used it since last Fall. A few minutes into these tasks I felt lots better about having it sitting in the corner of the machine shed all Winter. I'll never wear mine out and I'll never sell it. Great tool, especially with hydraulic scarifiers. You and Dave make me jealous with your new shiny BBs.

At least until you think how much we paid for the shiny paint.

I had mine on my 5740 all winter and it never even left the shop, man I had big plans. My brother put the rotary cutter on last week to begin the mowing season, so it'll set for some time.

 

[GoldenCityMuse]

I have very rocky soil.
I found a HEAVY DUTY Gannon blade on CL, paid $1600. But the end plates are 1/2" thick plate steel. Not gonna flex.
See my thread here
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/358595-gannon-box-blade-6-ft.html

 

[Zerk]

I went dealer. $200 more then king kitten and a little lighter. Being a novice I am basing a lot of my choice on weight, to indicate how sturdy it is. I realize that is not perfect, different types of metals.

I am on a sand pit. My only worry are roots in the woods. Which I realize are a concern.

Unless I am cone across something used, I am just going to fleet farm and get a KK.

I need to get one, some jerk tore my yard with a tractor.

 

[ovrszd]

I've got a KK 5' that I originally used on a 30hp B series Kubota. I welded all the hitch bolted joints and got along with it fine. I still use it on my little JD2210.

 

[Sysop]

I need to get one, some jerk tore my yard with a tractor.

:laughing:

 

[Fallon]

I went dealer. $200 more then king kitten and a little lighter. Being a novice I am basing a lot of my choice on weight, to indicate how sturdy it is. I realize that is not perfect, different types of metals.

I am on a sand pit. My only worry are roots in the woods. Which I realize are a concern.

Unless I am cone across something used, I am just going to fleet farm and get a KK.

I need to get one, some jerk tore my yard with a tractor.

All things being equal, that's right. While not always true, it is probably more than 85% of the time with box blades. Heavier = stronger, as well as digging/cutting better.

I'd find that jackass & make him spend a lot of tractor time fixing that damage & do some other work for good measure. Might even get some new implements just to make sure he has plenty of work to do.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

The key metric is weight per unit of width.

100 pounds per foot is OK. 125 pounds per foot is better. 150++ pounds per foot is nirvana.

Pictured Bush Hog (brand) 60" Rollover Box Blade weighs 630 pounds = 126 pounds per foot.

Soil: Florida sandy-loam.

I have the Frontier BB3272 6' Box blade on order. It is their construction grade and weighs 790 lbs

 

[sdef]

I have the Frontier BB3272 6' Box blade on order. It is their construction grade and weighs 790 lbs

Yep. One needs the weight. I have the 6' version of Jeff's and it weighs 700+ pounds. For my hard, rocky, clay soil I could really use something more like 1000 pounds. But 700+ works and just takes a bit longer time.

 

[bdog]

Weight is everything with a blade. I added ~700 lbs to my 10' box blade that was already pretty heavy to begin with and it made a huge difference.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

Yep. One needs the weight. I have the 6' version of Jeff's and it weighs 700+ pounds. For my hard, rocky, clay soil I could really use something more like 1000 pounds. But 700+ works and just takes a bit longer time.

This is why I ordered my 4066R with the down force kit that gives you 450 lbs of downforce

 

[jenkinsph]

This is why I ordered my 4066R with the down force kit that gives you 450 lbs of downforce

As I recall the down force option eliminates too many other hydraulic options to make it reasonable. I don't think you will be able to do near as much with it as a tractor with proper ballasting and heavy implements. My 4520 has 1100 lbs of steel weights and WWF in the rear tires. The box blade pictured is 7' and 1260 lbs.

 

[Fallon]

Down force on the 3pt also means up force & corresponding loss of traction on your tires.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

Down force on the 3pt also means up force & corresponding loss of traction on your tires.

It means I can drill a post hole in hard ground and can actually force my scarifiers into the ground. Having a heavy tractor does nothing for a implement like a blade or box scraper. You need the weight on the implement not the tractor axle.

Getting the down force kit kept me from getting the tilt/turn option which I don't need anyway as I have a dozer blade for my CTL

 

[Fallon]

My L3200 can barely pull my box blade full. I'm sure downpressure would reduce my traction enough so I could barely pull it empty.

 

[MF283]

As I recall the down force option eliminates too many other hydraulic options to make it reasonable. I don't think you will be able to do near as much with it as a tractor with proper ballasting and heavy implements. My 4520 has 1100 lbs of steel weights and WWF in the rear tires. The box blade pictured is 7' and 1260 lbs.

Notice the 3 pt arm hookup, normally goes along with a better quality than the single pin tab on other's, other's may disagree, my .02 cents.

Ronnie

 

[Zerk]

I have the Frontier BB3272 6' Box blade on order. It is their construction grade and weighs 790 lbs

How much? Paying for shipping? Delivered to dealer?